Can opener



E. ENDERES CAN OPENER Jan. 15, 1929.

Filed March 24, 1924 INVENTQR L'Rnsrl'xntnr;

- ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES mms'r nunnnns, or sometimes, IOWA.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed March 24, 1924. Serial No. 701,374. 9

The object of this invention is to provide an improved construction for can openers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a can opener of very simple and inexpensive construction, easily assembled and with no movable parts, yet adapted for use in a variety of ways.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the claim and illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an elevation showing my improved can opener in position for practical use relative to a can, a portion of which is broken away. Figure 2 is a plan of the same, partly in section. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the blade in position for use in a different manner relative to a can, shown in section.

The device as shown is formed with a handle 10, preferably of wood, having a metal ferrule 11 on one end by means of which the blade 12 is attached to the handle in a common manner. The blade 12 is offset between its ends, at 13, and beyond said offset is formed with a curved, sharpened edge 14 formed on an are which extends transversely partially across the end of the blade and terminates in apoint portion 15 extending in the general direction of the axis of the blade. Thus the cutting portion of the blade, having the sharpened edge 14, lies in a plane spaced from and substantially parallel with the shank portion of the blade, but said sharpened portion preferablyis also curved slightly laterally out of a plane and is concavo-convex in longitudinal section, the convex surface being on that side toward the plane of the shank of the blade, as indicated in Figure 2. Formed on one long margin of the shank portion of the blade 12, in the same plane as said portion and on the opposite side thereof from the curved cutting edge 14, is a prong 16, sharply pointed at its forward end and merging into the adjacent margins of the blade by curved lines. The point of the prong 16 is directed forwardly 1n the same direction as the point 15, and said points preferably are in substantially the same longitudinal line.

In practical use the device is used as commonly, for cutting the ends from, or cutting an arc of considerable extent in, the ends of tin cans such as 17 For this purpose the tool is held in upright position with the point 15 resting on the can top at the point where the cut is to be started, and caused to penetrate on. Downward pressure is then ap lied on the handle, causing the rounded cutting edge 14 to move upwardly against the metal and further enlarge the cut, the tool bein used as a lever with its fulcrum at the 0 set 13 resting on the (usuall beaded) margin of the can. The cut is continued to the desired extent by an oscillating movement of the tool, it being moved forwardly after each cutting movement, sliding on the edge of the can. 9

During such movement the prong 16 projects downwardly outside of the wall of the can and assists in guiding the tool, by preventing movement inwardly of the can top and keeping the blade close to the edge; The point portion 15 engages the lower surface of the top of the can 17 and serves as a stop to prevent the accidental escape of the tool from the can, in that said point portion will not cut through the can to The tool may aiso be used for punching holes in the tops of milk cans such as 18, as shown in Figure 3. For this operation the tool is placed in upri ht position with the cutting portion of the lade extending down past the side wall of the can and the prong 16 thereof engaging the top of the can near its margin. The prong is caused to penetrate the can top, as by a blow applied to the end of handle 10, and the hole may then be enlarged to form a slot, by slight oscillatory movement of the tool in the plane of the blade, assisted by engagement of the end portion of the blade with the side wall of thecan.

The prong 16 may also be employed for removing friction tops or caps from mustard jars and the like, by placing the straight side of the blade 12, opposite the curved edge 14, on the top of thecap, substantially radially thereof, and causing the end of the prong to engage beneath the edge of the top or cap, then prying or lifting with the handle 10 to cause the cap to be disengaged.

Thesharp point 15 of the blade 12 may also be used with facility for an ice scraper upon occasion, and other handy uses may be found for the tool when the operator becomes accustomed thereto.

I claim as my invention- A can opener blade consistin of an elongated body having at one end a shank portion and at its opposite end a blade portion disposed in the same general direction, the median longitudinal dimensions of said end portions being disposed at an angle to each other, and an intermediate oiiset portion merging with said end portions, the shank portion having at one edge. a prong portion with a pointed end disposed transversely across the intermediate offset portion and spaced from the end thereof, the blade portion and said cutting edge having a straight end portion extending to the extremity of the blade portion and forming a point.

Signed at Albert Lea, in the county of F reeborn and State of Minnesota, this 6 day of February, 1924.

ERNST ENDERES. 

